Disclaimer: See other chapters, I guess you could say at I own Adam and Joel too, but they aren't going to figure into the story very much, well at least at this point.
Author's note: Please, pretty please with sugar on top, please review!
Arianne woke up late on the day of the funeral for Shane's nana. She rushed about her modest apartment trying to get ready for the service. After going though her closet, she decided to wear a simple black sleeveless blouse and a knee length black skirt and black sandals. It was simple and understated, and to Arianne perfect for the occasion, if she could call it that. Then she swept her hair into a bun and let out some tendrils to soften the overall look.
After a ten-minute drive Arianne walked into the stately older cathedral and was at a lost of where to sit. She wondered if it was appropriate for her to sit with the Ross', or by herself in the one of the back pews. The service was scheduled to begin in five minutes, so she had to make up her mind rather quickly. Shane caught her attention and motioned for her to sit by him and his family. She walked over there, fidgeting with her momma's necklace, just as she always did when she was either lost in thought or nervous. In this case it was the latter.
"Hey beautiful." Shane whispered in her ear when they hugged, causing a look of a good type of surprise shock on Arianne's face
When they ended the embrace he continued with "Mom, Tess, Adam, Kate, and Joel, this is Arianne. Arianne these are my mother dearest and my two older twin sisters Tess and Kate, and my brothers-in-law. Kate is the one with the short hair, just so you know."
"Hello, Tess, Adam, Kate, Joel and Mrs. Ross." she said shaking each one of their hands in turn
"I can't believe how much you look like your mother." Carol commented, "Doug said that you looked like her, but I wasn't expecting this. You could pass for her if you dyed your hair."
"Thank you every much." she replied, once again going for the necklace and moving the pearl flower up and down the chain.
Arianne sat on the end of the pew, next to Shane for the duration of the service. An uncle of Carol's gave a eulogy that was both humorous and touching. He talked about all the good times, and his sister's iron will. There was a childhood tale told and many tears shed. Arianne even began to mist up, even though she had never met Shane's nana.
During a hymn, Arianne wondered about her own mother's funeral. The topic wasn't really off limits, but no one liked to talk about it. She wondered what her poppa said in the eulogy and what flowers where on her casket. Was Abby was there for her recently widowed father, and what Chuny did to soothe her newborn cries during ceremony? She hoped that it was as nice as this funeral, because she knew that Susan Carter deserved only the best that could be offered.
The group moved to the mausoleum where Mrs. Hathaway was to be laid to rest. The usually cool building was warm and slightly muggy, much to the dismay of many there. The last ritual was preformed and the little group broke up. They went into their cars and vans and jeeps, all heading for the little family style restaurant down the street.
Arianne and Shane sat at there own table, mainly for necessity's sake, but neither of them minded. They talked over the simple lunch of hot turkey sandwiches and whipped potatoes of life and how it should be lived to the fullest of everyday.
"Arianne, there is something that I need to tell you before the plane leaves tomorrow morning."
"What?" she asked with a coy sense of flirty-ness, letting a smile play with the corners of her mouth
"I really want to make it work between us. You are everything good that I'm not. I want to stay in contact with you, because I don't think that I could exist in a world that Arianne Carter isn't a part of. Seattle is so far away from you, and I hate the idea of going back there, but I have to. So, now I really feel like I'm in the seventh grade or something, but will you go steady with me?"
"Shane, do you even need to ask? Of course I will, and you don't sounds like a seventh grader, you sound like a sweet guy who is gentle and caring. You are a great person and everything about you is good, please don't sell yourself short." Arianne said while touching the back of his hand
"Well in that case I have something for you." Shane opened up his billfold and pulled a colorful something out of it "Shut your eyes and hold your hand out, palm up."
He put a hand folded origami butterfly in her hand and then gently curled her fingers around it. She opened her eyes and her palm and saw the carefully constructed creation.
"It's beautiful, Shane, it really is." she whispered
"Well then it was worth it."
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Shane got on the plane that next morning, but not all of him was there. A part of his soul, his inner being was with Arianne Grace Carter. She held the part of him that was the most fragile, and the most able to be destroyed. Yet he trusted her with it, because he knew that it would all work out
Arianne had her shift, just as always. He mind drifted to Shane at every possible moment. Abby and Chuny were having fun with her and her new relationship with Shane Ross, but it didn't matter. They had the hope of more to come, and she was sure that something wonderful would result.
Author's Note 2 : I know that it sounds like an ending, and I really feel that no one is reading this…so this way its open to either coming on or ending, but I really want it to go on so I think it will, but please review!